Must See Sights and Landmarks in Mendip Close Area

"The list of London’s most famous skyscrapers continues with the tallest building inthe city, as well as all of Europe with the exception of Russian skyscrapers. The Shard was inaugurated in 2012 after 3 years’ work. Standing 1015 feet 9 inches tall, it was designed by the firmRPBW Architects led by Renzo Piano, who said he had been inspired by Canaletto’s paintings depicting eighteenth-century London."

"London’s tallest skyscraper with superb city views from the Skydeck on the 72nd floor. The 306m-tall building is the tallest in the EU and on a clear day you get 360-degree views for up to 40 miles. Using binoculars you can zoom in on London’s different landmarks, from the Houses of Parliament to Tower Bridge."

"Designed by Architect Renzo Piano and based in Southwark, London, The Shard stands tall at 309.6 metres. Designed in neo-futuristic and modern style, it houses some of the world’s best offices, restaurants and hotel rooms. It has been open to the public since 2013."

"For a building still significant but just a bit (okay, a lot!) older, walk right across the River Thames to the Tower of London, which, having been founded in 1066, is nearly 1,000 years old!. Tours include exploring several different parts of the property – my favorite part of the tour during my visit was checking out the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom!"

"Delve into British Royal history by exploring London’s Royal historic buildings. The Tower of London sits on the bank of the Thames, right by Tower Bridge and it’s an absolute must for history lovers in London. Look around the original structure where some of the most famous (and infamous) moments in British history took place."

"The Tower Of London is an iconic London stop so make sure to see it during your 4 day London itinerary. Skip The Line At The Tower Of London And Crown Jewels and buy advance tickets here!"

"One of London's most recognisable sights, familiar from dozens of movies, Tower Bridge doesn’t disappoint in real life. Its neo-Gothic towers and sky-blue suspension struts add extraordinary elegance to what is a supremely functional structure. London was a thriving port in 1894 when it was built as a much-needed crossing point in the east, equipped with a then-revolutionary steam-driven bascule (counterbalance) mechanism that could raise the roadway to make way for oncoming ships in just three minutes."

"The best view of Tower Bridge (in my opinion) is from the water; however, not everyone has a chance to do a Thames River Cruise. If that’s not on your itinerary, try to get a photo of Tower Bridge from afar, featuring something else iconic – perhaps City Hall?. Alternatively, a head on shot crossing the bridge is pretty incredible, too!"

"The Bascule suspension bridge was built in the mid to late 1800s. It stands more than 200 feet tall and runs more than 800 feet long. The Tower Bridge Exhibition is in the bridge towers."

"If you guys have been following this blog for a while you may have realised that I am borderline obsessed with Sky Garden. I think it’s not only one of the best views and best rooftop bars in London, but it’s also very Instagrammable. The combination of stunning views over the rooftops of London, with modern architecture and green plants is a winner for me."

"Number two on our list of the bests building and architecture in London is the stunning sky gardens. This is one of the most modern buildings found in the city. Also, its one of the highest public gardens to be found in the United Kingdom."

"Sky Garden is on top of one of the skyscrapers found in London. You can visit levels 35 through 37 of the "Walkie Talkie" for free—just make sure to book a ticket in advance."

"When you’re done, you’ll emerge blinking into the light, where you might want to take a stroll around St. James Park, or head through Whitehall to see the home of the British Prime Minster at No. 10 Downing Street, before finishing up at Trafalgar Square, where you’ve got full access to all the shows in the West End – an excellent way to spend the evening ahead! The Churchill War Rooms are very popular, so we advise booking in advance or using a London Pass, which has free entry to the War Rooms and access to the pre-booked ticket queue, which is a lot faster. You can see prices and opening times here."

"As one of London’s best known landmarks, we all know Nelson’s Column, but there’s much more to Trafalgar Square. Designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, its fountains offer a great spot for a mid-city repose, flanked by statues of historical figures and whatever piece of cutting edge contemporary art is currently on the Fourth Plinth. Afterwards, we recommend rubbing a lion statue's nose for luck (or something like that)."

"Trafalgar Square is a popular public square in central London known for its monuments, architecture, street artists, and surrounding museums. The square itself is home to Nelson’s Column (a monument commemorating Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805), the famous stone lion statues, and the featured contemporary art on the Fourth Plinth."

"If you’re looking for a place steeped in history, then look no further than St Dunstan in the East Church Garden. Having been built around the year 1100, St Dunstan’s Church had a new south aisle added in 1391 which was later repaired in 1631. However, just 35 years down the line in 1666, the entire church was severely damaged by the Great Fire of London."

"A post shared by Elisa Santi (@elisa_marie_81) on May 22, 2017 at 2:23am PDT. Enjoy the tranquillity of the City of London’s stunning St Dunstan in the East. Severely damaged in the Blitz, this hidden gem’s beautiful ruins have been transformed into a public garden, providing a calming sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the capital."

"St Dunstan in the East is one of the more unique London Instagram spots. This location once housed a church, however, in the Second World War it was largely destroyed. The ruins have since been turned into a public garden."

"The Ragged School Museum in London opened in 1990 at the former Dr Barnardo's Copperfield Road Ragged School. The school opened in 1877 to provide the children in the area with a basic education, making it the biggest school of its kind for the period. By 1908, the government had taken over public education and the school was closed."

"One church which comes up in very few London guide books is St Brides church on Fleet Street. The current St Bride’s is at least the seventh to have stood on the site, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the 1672 incarnation was damaged heavily during a fire in the WWII blitz in the 1940’s but thankfully able to be restored. The second tallest church in London, after St Paul’s, St Brides is an imposing figure on the London skyline, especially against the modern highrise buildings of today."

"He is thought to have been inspired by illustrations of the Tower of the Winds in Vitruvius. However, it is best known for its lasting influence on weddings. This originated when a Mr Rich, an 18th-century pastrycook of Fleet Street, modelled his famous wedding cakes on the spire."

"Famous for its three-tiered spire which inspired a baker to create a tiered wedding cake. It has an interesting museum underneath 2"

"Bakers Mathew and Andrew met while working in Melbourne and decided to return to London to set up their own business. Chewy Cookie is all about quality, ethically sourced cookies. The doughs are aged for 24 hours before baking (and we can attest to how great they taste)."

"Cuisine: SteakhouseHalal Options: Separate Halal menu with various Halal meatsAddress: Ariel Way, White City, London W12 7GAWebsite: https://www.themeatco.com/westfield-londonNearest Tube Stop: Shepherds Bush"

"If you're after counter-side seating, red leather booths and plates of pie good enough to take home to grandma, Electric Diner will meet your need for an American eatery big-time. It gets packed out at brunch time, but it's the evening when things really get a USA kick. Try the Philly chilli cheese dog or the cheeseburger and follow with the NY cheese cake, or if you're just getting started, an apple old fashioned."

"A palatable playground of French-American foods, Electric Diner comes to you from the infamous Soho House group. Taking residency on the iconic Portobello Road in Notting Hill, Electric Diner is one of our more relaxed restaurants for a spot of celeb-heavy dining that's less pretentious and more 'fancy seeing you here' kinda vibes."

"This place dishes up all the usual American fare in classic booth seating. Pop-in to satisfy your cravings day or night, as they serve until midnight (or until 1am on Friday and Saturday) and offer an extensive American breakfast menu from 8am."

"With multiple locations across the city and an impressive range of flavours rotated daily, Crosstown’s handmade fresh doughnuts are not to be missed. For a seasonal snack, the Pumpkin and Nutmeg Custard Doughnut is full of wintry flavour, including pumpkin sourdough, cream cheese icing, pumpkin seeds, and orange zest. Similarly, the Spiced Apple and Pear Crumble Doughnut is bursting with the taste of maple, pecan, and autumn fruits."

"Another place that absolutely slays the donut game is Crosstown. These guys have only been in London since 2014, but they’ve garnered a massive following since then. As plenty of Londoners would confirm, a donut from Crosstown is absolutely one of the best desserts in London."

"The Blackberry & Pear – one of our banging new seasonal (vegan) flavours available in-store and on-demand across London, direct from the Crosstown website. 🍐🍩✖️ #crosstown#vegancrosstown#crosstowndoughnuts. 📸: chefclarisseflon 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/SV4poI3Jr6"

"Family run business, Rinkoff Bakery has been serving up delicious baked goods and sweet treats for over 100 years and their quality hasn’t faltered once. You can enjoy their special home baked treats from both of their stores, including their infamous Crodoughs, a fun take on the croissant and doughnut trend. Location: Jubilee Street & Vallance Roadwww.rinkoffbakery.co.uk"

"A post shared by Rinkoff Bakery (@rinkoffbakery) on Oct 19, 2018 at 12:16am PDT. Most famous for the invention of the Crodough — a croissant-doughnut hybrid — it's actually the savouries we're here for. A perfect Rinkoff's order is as much of their plaited challah as you can reasonably get through while it's still fresh."

"Established in 1911, Rinkoff bakery is a family run business in the heart of Whitechapel. With over a hundred years of honing its baking skills, Rinkoff bakery is sure to sell you the perfect doughnut. Crodoughs, a gorgeous croissant-doughnut hybrid is Rinkoff’s most renowned menu item."